ROB Howley says Wales need to reach another level if they are to challenge England and Ireland in the Six Nations despite signing off for the autumn with a win against South Africa.

Wales ran out 27-13 victors against a shocking Springboks side to record their third November success, responding to their opening weekend hammering to Australia by beating the Boks, Argentina and Japan.

Once again they didn’t hit the heights – especially in comparison to Ireland, who beat Australia, and England, who overcame the Pumas to extend their winning 2016 record – but head coach Howley was pleased his charges took the spoils.

"I am just delighted for the players, that is my overriding emotion, they deserved their victory,” he said. "I thought we were comfortable, we were able to stress South Africa more times than they were able to stress us.

"But we have spoken after the game that there is another level in us. At 20-6 we don't make it easy for ourselves, we never have and we never will.

"Ireland have beaten Australia and England have been playing really well. We have taken a good scalp in South Africa and to have also beaten Argentina in an autumn series, I deem that a success.

"But, as I told the players afterwards, we will have to go to another level if we are going to get near England and Ireland. That is the challenge."

Howley, holding the reins while Warren Gatland is on another Lions sabbatical, has come under fire for the spluttering autumn showings but stressed he hasn’t felt the heat.

"I have loved every minute of it, it is not a stressful job, it is an enjoyable job," he said.

"I don't tend to read or listen to anything, it is the internal and external perception we all talk about.

"The internal perception is that we are a very good team and I think we showed that today. All the white noise and all that, we are just concentrating on performing and trying to be the best we can as coaches and players on a Saturday."